Long Range Scanners and Bodhi Rook pilot

By matt.sucharski, in X-Wing Rules Questions

Long Range Scanners prohibits acquiring target locks on ships at range 1-2, but Bodhi Rook allows friendly ships to acquire locks on ships within range 1-3 of any friendly ship. Let's say there's a Warden Squadron K-Wing with Long Range Scanners equipped. Bodhi Rook is the pilot of a friendly U-Wing. If an enemy is within range 1-2 of the K-Wing, could the K-Wing use an action to acquire a lock on the enemy ship? LRS says 'no', but Bodhi Rook says 'yes'.

I know there's been an FAQ regarding a somewhat similar situation in which two or more upgrades are opposed to one another. For example, there is a conflict between Nien Numb crew and the Stay on Target Elite Pilot Talent. In that case it has been ruled that the more disadvantageous outcome has priority: i.e., maneuvers selected via Stay on Target are always red, even they are straight maneuvers which Nien turns green. The FAQ does not, however, indicate that this is a general guideline for resolving analogous conflicts.

I've heard that Fire Control System will not trigger after attacking a ship at range 1-2 if the attacker has Long Range Scanners - but this is a different situation because Bodhi alters the map of possible target lock locations.

Any thoughts?

There's a general rule of the game that "cannot" beats "can". Long Range Scanners is a "cannot", so while you have LRS equipped, no effect can cause you to acquire a target lock on something at range 1-2. (Jendon or Manaroo can pass you a target lock, because technically that's not "acquiring".)

"If a card ability or mission effect uses the word "cannot," that effect is absolute and cannot be overridden by other effects." - Page 2 of the Rules Reference under "Golden Rules"

There is absolutely no legal way Bodhi Rook's ability can permit a ship with Long-Range Scanners to violate the range restriction on that upgrade.

:ph34r: @EdgeOfDreams

Edited by jmswood